Beet-topping mechanism



July 24, 1923- I C. L. GREENING ET AL BEET TGPPING MECHANISM Filed May' 24, 1920 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 July 24, 1923- I 1,462,907

0. L. GREENING ET AL BEET TOPPING MEGHANI SM Filed May 24 1920 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Snug wow Clarence L Ere Emrg aru3. harlesw. Br Eanmg July 24, 1923- HAfiZfi? c. L. GREENING ET AL I BEET TOPPING MECHANISM Filed May 24 1920 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 65 Clarence L. Ereen'ilgg gmmtow Earles W. Ere ffimg 1,462,97 C. L. GREENING ET AL BEET TOPPING MECHANISM Filed May: 24, 1920 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented July 24, 1923.

7 UNITED srerss PATENT OFFICEEFYT CLARENCE L. GREEN ING AND CHARLES \V. GBEENING, OF BRECKENRIDGE, MICHIGAN- BEET-TOPPING MECHANISM.

Application filed May 24:, 1920. Serial No. 383,832.

T 0 aZZ'w/wm it may concern: w

Be it known that we, CLARENCE L. GREEN- ING and CHARLES VV/GREENING, citizens of the United States, residing at Breckenridge, in the county of Gratiot and State of Michi? gan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in'Beet-Topping Mechanism, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to vegetable topping mechanisms, and the primary object of the invention is to provide an improved device for topping beetsduring harvesting and while the topper can be used in connection with various types of beet harvesters or pullers, the same is especially adapted for use in connection with our co-pending application serial 383833 for beet harvesters, executed on even date herewith.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved meansfor toppingbeets prior to being pulled from the ground, the topping mechanism being so arranged as to give when a hard object such as stones and the like is struck, thereby preventing the breaking of the cutting mechanism.

A further object of the invention is the provision of an improved topping mechanism for beets, which embodies a pivoted frame having an improved means for permitting the swinging thereof and for permitting regulating of the distance thereof in relation to the beets an improved device carried by said means for permitting the adjustment of said means, so that each beet irrespective of the position of the same in the ground will be cut from the top approxi mately the same distance.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved means for engaging the tops of the beets as the same are cut, and for pulling the tops away from the knives, thereby preventing the knives from beoom ing ammed, means also being provided for carrying'the tops to one side of the machine.

Other objects of the invention will appear from the following detailed descrip tion, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a beet harvester embodying the improved beet topping mechanism.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the same.

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical longitudinal section through a beet harvester showing the improved beet'top-' ping mechanism.

Fi re 4: is an enlarged fragmentary horizontal longitudinal section through a'beet harvester showing the improved beet topping mechanism. v

Figure 5 is an enlarged verticaltrans verse section through a fragment of a beet up harvester showing a front elevation of the improved beet topping mechanism.

Figure 6 is an enlarged fragmentary horizontal section through a portion of the beet topping mechanism showing the means for mounting the circular knife for permitting the same to give when'a hard object is struck.

Referring to the drawings in detail,

wherein similar reference characters 'desig nate corresponding parts throughout the several views, the letter A generally indicates the beet harvesting machine and B the improved beet topping mechanism associated therewith. i i

The beet harvester A maybe of any pre ferred construction and as shown includes a pair of longitudinally extending sidebars" 10 which gradually converge toward their forward ends. The longitudinally extending side bars 10 are braced-by transversely extending cross bars 11 and 12, which are arranged adjacent to the forward aIIdfI'GEI I" ends of the frame. The side bars 10 carry suitable bearings-13 for receiving the archaXle 14 which has rotatably mounted there on the ground wheels 15. A lever and rack mechanism 16 of the ordinary or any preferred construction is employed'for adjusting the position of the ground wheels in rela-l tion to the longitudinally extending 'bars.

The ground wheels 15 carry relatively large sprocket wheels 16, and these sprocket wheels may if so desired be connected to the ground wheels by suitable shiftable clutches. The forward ends of the side bars 10 carry suitable bearings 17, which support the vertically disposed shafts 18- for the guide wheels 19. The upper terminals of the shafts'1'8 have crank arms 20 secured theretoywhich form means for turning the shafts 18' forguiding the wheels 19. The outer ends of the cranks 20 have 'pivotally secured thereto rearwardly extending connecting rods 21 and the rear ends of the rods are pivotally' connected to a T-rod 22 which is pivotally I connected to a suitable bearing bracket 23 I'OWS.

bolted orotherwise secured to the rear cross bar'12. The T-shaped rod 22 carries a'seat It can be seen that by turning the seat 23 the steering wheels 19 can be turned in anyde'sired dlrection for holding the har vester in correct alignment withthe beet A substantially U-shaped frame 24 is carried by the side bars 10 and the cross bar 12 forms a portion thereof. The arms of the substantially U-shaped frame 24 extend i downwardly and forwardly as clearly shown in' Figure 1 of the drawings. The lower terminals of the arms ofthe U-shaped frame 24 carry the inclined beetpulling plow bars 25., A second depending U-shaped frame i its ends for bracing the same. The U-shaped 26 is secured to the side bars 10 forwardly of they U-shaped frame 24 and the lower terminals of this frame are connected to the arms of the U-shaped frame 24 intermediate frame 26 also supports a-lever and rack 27 and the rear ends of these parallel bars are pivotally connected to upstanding rods 33 of .theordinary or any preferred means for,

sh-iftingthe draft mechanism 28.

The improved beet topping mechanism B includes'a pair of depending supporting bars 30 which are secured as at 31 to the side bars 10. adjacent to the forward end thereof.

Each of the depending bearing bars 30 pivotally supports a pair of parallel bars 32 carried by the ends of a supporting frame 34 of the topping mechanism; The s'upport.

ingframe 34 is of substantially U-shape and includes the side bars or legs 33 and the connecting cross bar 35. The lower terminal of one of the side bars or legs 33.is provided with an inturned foot 36 which forms means for supporting thetrough 37 for guiding the beet tops to one side ofthe machine. The

opposite leg or side bar 33 has its terminal bent inwardly to provide a bearing 38 for a purpose which will hereinafter more fully appear. The cross bar 35 of the frame 34 supports a pair of bearings 39 which rotatably receive a stub shaft 40, which is operatively connected with a transversely extending shaft 41 by means which will be hereinafter more fully described. The trans versely extending shaft is in turn operatively connected with a counter shaft 42, which is rotatably carried by the side bars 10. The

means of connecting the counter shaft withthe transversely extending shaft 41 will also be described. The counter shaft in turn is operatively, connected with the sprocket wheels 16 of the ground or supporting wheelsl5- by meanswhich will also be hereinafter Inorefully described, The transversly extending shaft-41 and the stub shaft 40 are provided with, aligned sprocket wheels 43 around which is trained a sprocketchain 44.

The sprocket, wheel 43 carried by the stub shaft 40 hasless diameter than the sprocket wheel carried by the transversely extending shaft 41. The transversely extending shaft 41 and the shaft 42 have keyed or otherwise secured thereto aligned sprocket wheels 45 and the sprocket wheel 45 carried by the transversely extending shaft has a less diameter than the sprocket wheel carried by the counter shaft, so that the transversely extending shaft will be driven at an increased speed over the counter shaft. The counter shaft 42 has also keyed thereto relatively small sprocket wheels 47 which are in alignment with the relatively large sprocket wheels 16 carried'by the ground wheels 15 and these sprocket wheels have trained around the same drive sprocket chains 48.

Thus the countershaft will be driven at an increased speed over the ground wheels. The cross bar 35 of they frame 34 is provided with a bearing. which is in direct vertical by the formation of the shaft and by the means for mounting the same in the bearing, the same is permitted to slide in the lower bearing. The lowerend of the shaft 50 has keyed thereto a circular knife 54 which is provided with a toothed periphery 55.

The upper end of the shaft has keyed thereto,

a bevelled pinion 56, which meshes with a bevelled pinion 57 keyed to the stub shaft 40. The inner end of the trough 37 is flared outwardly as at 58 and the forward edge ofthe same is inclined at an angle to the transverse axis of the machine. This inclined end carries a straight stationary blade 59 which is adapted to cooperatewith the circular rotatable knife 54 for severing the tops of the beets. The extreme inner edge of the flared portion 58 of the trough 37 is curved arcuately as at 60 so .asto", conform to the configuration of the circular knife. Owing to the inclined edge of the knife 59, a shearing action will be obtained on the beets being out andthisedge will also-serveas a means to guide the beet tops' toward the rotatable knife. I ,Y

Arranged in the flared portion 58 of the trough '37 directly in rear of and above the knife 59 is arranged a device for receiving and catching the beet tops as the sameare cut for throwing the same into the trough 37. is arranged transversely of the frame 33 and the same is supported in a suitable bearing This device includes. a shaft 61 which provided in oneleg 33 of the sameandina depending bracket'62 bolted or otherwise secured to the, lower surfaceof the cross bar 35 of the frame 34. This shaft is provided witha plurality of rows of spaced radially extending teeth 63 which are arranged at an angle to the shaft and these teeth are adapted to pick the beet tops and throw the samerearwardly. The shaft 61 is driven fromjthe shaft 50 by means ofa relatively large beveled ,gear wheel 64 which is secured to a shaft 65'which is arranged at the outer end of the trough 37 for-a purpose which will llGlelIllftQIVHlOIQ fully appear. The shaft 61 has keyed thereto a relatively small bevelled gear 66 which'meshes with, the relatively large bevelled gear 64. ,-The opposite end of the trough 37 from that which carries the shaft 65 rotatably supports a shaft 68, and the shafts 65 and 68 have the sprocket wheels 69 keyed thereto which receive a sprocket chain 70. This sprocket chain 70 forms a part of the endless conveyor for directing the beet tops out of the trough 87 and to one side of the machine. The sprocket chain 70 has a plu rality of outwardly extending teeth 71 formed thereon for engaging the beet tops.

To limit the downward movement of the frame 34.- and the trough 37 adjustable supporting rods 72 are provided. These supporting rods 72 are pivotally connected to the parallel bars 32 adjacent to their inner ends. The upper ends of the bars slidably extend through suitable bearings 73 carried by the inner faces of the longitudinally extending side bars 10 of the beet harvester, and the upper ends of the rods have threaded thereon suitable thumb nuts 7 3. By this arrangement, it can be seen that the frame 34: and the trough 37 will readily swing upwardly but will be prevented from moving downward beyond a predetermined distance. This distance can be determined by.

adjusting the nuts 7 3'.

To provide means for raising and lower-- ing the trough 37 and the frame 34 so as to carry the cutting knives in correct relation to the beets being cut, a plurality of arcuate gauge knives 74 are provided. These gauge knives 74 are connected together for movement by means of a cross bar 75. The upper ends of the gauge knives are connected to a shaft 7 5 which is rotatably supported by the forwardly extending bars 76, secured to the depending legs or side bars 33. The

diagonal brace bars 77 are provided for connecting the forwardly extending bars 76 with the side bars or legs 33.

A turnbuckle construction 78 is provided for connecting the gauge knives 74: intermediate their ends with the forwardly extending bars 76. This turnbuckle construction permits of the initial adjustment of the gauge knives 74: in relation to the cutting knives, so that the amount of the top to be cut from the beets can be regulated.

In operation of the improved machine, the same is driven to the field where the beets are to beharvested, and the turnbuckles 78 are'a-djusted so as to regulate the relation of the gauge knives 74 inrelation to the cutting knives. The machine is then started, which will drive the shaft 61 and the conveyor 7 (l at a relatively high rateof speed in relation to the ground wheels. vThe circular cutting kI1Ife,54:' will also be driven at a relatively high rate ofspeed in relation to the ground wheels and as the tops of the beets come into engagement with the cutting knives, the same will be caught by the rotating circular knife 54- andthe topswillbe severed. As the tops are severedthesame are thrown rearWardly into the trough37, bymeans of the teeth63 formedon'the shaft 61 after which the outwardly extending teeth 71 carried by the conveyor chain 70 will catch the beet tops and force the same out of the trough 37 to one side of the machine. The outwardly extending teeth 71. carried by the conveyor chain 70 preferably have their outer ends flared and forked, as at 80, so that the teeth will firmly engage the beet tops.

As the gauge knives 74: engage the beet tops the same will either raise or lower the trough 37 in relation to the ground according to the position of the beets therein, thereby insuring that the same amount of the beet will be cut off of all of the beets.

Changes in details may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention; but,

We claim:

1. In a beet harvester, a beet topping mechanism including a stationary knife, a rotatable knife, means for rotating the knife, and. means for permitting the rotating knife to slide in relation to'said stationary knife when a hard object is struck.

- 2. In a beet harvesting mechanism, a beet topping-device including a stationary knife,

3. In a beet harvesting mechanism, a

frame, cutting knives carried by the frame, means carried by the frame and arranged in rear of said cutting knives for moving the severed tops therefrom, and an endless conveyor arranged to engage said beet tops and move the same to one side of said frame.

at. In a beet topping mechanism, a trough, one end of the trough being flared, cutting knives arranged at the flared portion of the trough, means arranged to receive the severed beet tops for throwing the same into the trough, and conveying mechanism arranged to move said beet tops out of said trough toone side thereof. r

5. In a beet topping mechanism, a frame,

- said cutting knives, spaced rows of arouatelyextending fingers carried by the shaft arranged to engage the severed beet tops for moving the same into the trough, an endless conveyor belt carried by the troughand arranged to move the beet tops through said trough, and outwardly extending forked teeth carried by said'eonveyor.

6. In a beet harvester, asupporting frame, a substantially U-shap'ed secondary frame carried by the supporting frame, atrans 2o verselyextending trough oarried by the U- shaped frame, one end of said trough being flared, a stationary knife carried by the flared end of the trough, a rotatable knife carried by the flared end of the trough and arranged adjacent to the stationary knife,

a rotatable shaftcarried by the U-shaped.

frame and arranged in rear of and above said cutting knives, outwardly extending V prongs carried by the shaft, adjustable" arcuate gauge knives carried by said U- table cutting knife, said shaftand said endless conveyor at a relatively high rate of speed.

CLARENCE L, GREE-NING. CHARLES W. GREENING. 1 

